OptaJoe
@optajoe.com
1 - The official BlueSky page for Stats Perform’s English football coverage, brought to you by OptaJoe. Illuminating.
2 - Hugo Ekitike is the first player to score twice in the opening five minutes of the second half of a Premier League game since Raheem Sterling did so for Manchester City against Watford in March 2019. Energised.
December 6, 2025 at 6:53 PM
2 - Hugo Ekitike is the first player to score twice in the opening five minutes of the second half of a Premier League game since Raheem Sterling did so for Manchester City against Watford in March 2019. Energised.
8 - Since the start of last season, no duo have combined for more Premier League goals than Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers (8). Partnership.
December 3, 2025 at 8:41 PM
8 - Since the start of last season, no duo have combined for more Premier League goals than Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers (8). Partnership.
8 - Since the start of last season, no Premier League player has scored more headed goals in all competitions than Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, heading in eight of his 14 goals in that time. Aplomb.
December 3, 2025 at 7:50 PM
8 - Since the start of last season, no Premier League player has scored more headed goals in all competitions than Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, heading in eight of his 14 goals in that time. Aplomb.
6 - Teams to score the last 3 goals of a Premier League match but still lose:
Nottingham Forest v Oldham, Aug 1992
Leicester v Blackburn, Feb 1998
Bolton v Chelsea, Apr 2009
Burnley v West Ham, Nov 2009
Aston Villa v Soton, Nov 2020
🆕Fulham v Man City, Dec 2025
Fightback.
Nottingham Forest v Oldham, Aug 1992
Leicester v Blackburn, Feb 1998
Bolton v Chelsea, Apr 2009
Burnley v West Ham, Nov 2009
Aston Villa v Soton, Nov 2020
🆕Fulham v Man City, Dec 2025
Fightback.
December 3, 2025 at 10:43 AM
6 - Teams to score the last 3 goals of a Premier League match but still lose:
Nottingham Forest v Oldham, Aug 1992
Leicester v Blackburn, Feb 1998
Bolton v Chelsea, Apr 2009
Burnley v West Ham, Nov 2009
Aston Villa v Soton, Nov 2020
🆕Fulham v Man City, Dec 2025
Fightback.
Nottingham Forest v Oldham, Aug 1992
Leicester v Blackburn, Feb 1998
Bolton v Chelsea, Apr 2009
Burnley v West Ham, Nov 2009
Aston Villa v Soton, Nov 2020
🆕Fulham v Man City, Dec 2025
Fightback.
100 - Erling Haaland is the 35th player to score 100 goals in the @premierleague. It has taken him just 111 appearances, 13 fewer than the previous fastest (Alan Shearer in 124 apps). Phenomenon.
December 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
100 - Erling Haaland is the 35th player to score 100 goals in the @premierleague. It has taken him just 111 appearances, 13 fewer than the previous fastest (Alan Shearer in 124 apps). Phenomenon.
70% - Mikel Merino has scored his 10th Premier League goal, seven of which have been headed (70%). Among all non-defenders with 10+ goals in the competition's history, only James Scowcroft (71% - 10/14) has scored a higher ratio with his head. Bonce.
November 30, 2025 at 5:59 PM
70% - Mikel Merino has scored his 10th Premier League goal, seven of which have been headed (70%). Among all non-defenders with 10+ goals in the competition's history, only James Scowcroft (71% - 10/14) has scored a higher ratio with his head. Bonce.
1 - Moisés Caicedo has received his first red card in the Premier League in his 130th appearance. He is the seventh Chelsea player to be sent off against Arsenal in the competition, and first since David Luiz in September 2017. Studs.
November 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
1 - Moisés Caicedo has received his first red card in the Premier League in his 130th appearance. He is the seventh Chelsea player to be sent off against Arsenal in the competition, and first since David Luiz in September 2017. Studs.
3 - For the first time on record (from 2006-07), Arsenal have seen three players carded in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League game. Feisty.
November 30, 2025 at 5:04 PM
3 - For the first time on record (from 2006-07), Arsenal have seen three players carded in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League game. Feisty.
56 - Bruno Fernandes now has more Premier League assists for Manchester United (56) than Paul Scholes (55). Only Ryan Giggs (162), Wayne Rooney (93), and David Beckham (80) have provided more for the Red Devils in the competition. Climbing.
November 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
56 - Bruno Fernandes now has more Premier League assists for Manchester United (56) than Paul Scholes (55). Only Ryan Giggs (162), Wayne Rooney (93), and David Beckham (80) have provided more for the Red Devils in the competition. Climbing.
364 - Joshua Zirkzee has scored his first Premier League goal since scoring a brace against Everton in December 2024, 364 days ago. It ends his run of 24 league appearances without scoring. Awaited.
November 30, 2025 at 1:22 PM
364 - Joshua Zirkzee has scored his first Premier League goal since scoring a brace against Everton in December 2024, 364 days ago. It ends his run of 24 league appearances without scoring. Awaited.
34 - Since Oliver Glasner's first Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace in February 2024, only Erling Haaland (46) and Mo Salah (36) have scored more Premier League goals than Jean-Philippe Mateta (34). Marksman.
November 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
34 - Since Oliver Glasner's first Premier League game in charge of Crystal Palace in February 2024, only Erling Haaland (46) and Mo Salah (36) have scored more Premier League goals than Jean-Philippe Mateta (34). Marksman.
5 - Arsenal have won their first five matches in a UEFA Champions League season for the first time since 2005-06, the season in which they reached their only final in the competition. They are the only side with a 100% record in the Champions League this season. Marching.
November 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
5 - Arsenal have won their first five matches in a UEFA Champions League season for the first time since 2005-06, the season in which they reached their only final in the competition. They are the only side with a 100% record in the Champions League this season. Marching.
9 - Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, their most defeats over a 12-game spell since November 1953 to January 1954 (also 9). Dire.
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
9 - Liverpool have lost nine of their last 12 games across all competitions, their most defeats over a 12-game spell since November 1953 to January 1954 (also 9). Dire.
3 - Liverpool have lost three consecutive games in all competitions by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since December 1953. Alarming.
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
3 - Liverpool have lost three consecutive games in all competitions by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since December 1953. Alarming.
3 - Liverpool have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1992. Porous.
November 26, 2025 at 9:43 PM
3 - Liverpool have conceded 3+ goals in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since September 1992. Porous.
3 - Estêvão (18y 215d) is the third teenager to score in each of his first three UEFA Champions League starts after Kylian Mbappé (18y 113d) and Erling Haaland (19y 107d). Flourishing.
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
3 - Estêvão (18y 215d) is the third teenager to score in each of his first three UEFA Champions League starts after Kylian Mbappé (18y 113d) and Erling Haaland (19y 107d). Flourishing.
0.07 & 0.1 - Tottenham Hotspur are responsible for the two lowest xG totals in a Premier League game this season, against Arsenal (0.07) and Chelsea (0.1). Concern.
November 23, 2025 at 6:55 PM
0.07 & 0.1 - Tottenham Hotspur are responsible for the two lowest xG totals in a Premier League game this season, against Arsenal (0.07) and Chelsea (0.1). Concern.
9 - Only Brighton and Hove Albion (10) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (9), winning three of their last four games when conceding first, one more than their prior 17 matches (D6 L9). Comeback.
November 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
9 - Only Brighton and Hove Albion (10) have gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa (9), winning three of their last four games when conceding first, one more than their prior 17 matches (D6 L9). Comeback.
4 - Liverpool are just the fourth side to start a season as defending champions in the Premier League with 6+ defeats in their first 12 games, after Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96 (6), Chelsea in 2015-16 (7), and Leicester City in 2016-17 (6). Crumbling.
November 22, 2025 at 5:09 PM
4 - Liverpool are just the fourth side to start a season as defending champions in the Premier League with 6+ defeats in their first 12 games, after Blackburn Rovers in 1995-96 (6), Chelsea in 2015-16 (7), and Leicester City in 2016-17 (6). Crumbling.
1965 - Liverpool have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since April 1965 under Bill Shankly. Malfunction.
November 22, 2025 at 5:06 PM
1965 - Liverpool have lost back-to-back league games by a margin of 3+ goals for the first time since April 1965 under Bill Shankly. Malfunction.
4 - Players to score 10+ Premier League goals under a manager with the same first name as him:
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
4 - Players to score 10+ Premier League goals under a manager with the same first name as him:
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
19 - David Hirst under David Pleat
11 - John Wark under John Lyall
10 - David Unsworth under David Moyes
🆕10 - Enzo Fernández under Enzo Maresca
Namesakes.
8 - Chelsea have won each of their last eight Premier League games kicking off at 12:30 on a Saturday, with only Manchester City enjoying a longer run of successive victories in this specific kick-off slot in the competition (9 from May 2021-Oct 2022). Weetabix.
November 22, 2025 at 2:34 PM
8 - Chelsea have won each of their last eight Premier League games kicking off at 12:30 on a Saturday, with only Manchester City enjoying a longer run of successive victories in this specific kick-off slot in the competition (9 from May 2021-Oct 2022). Weetabix.
5 - Tonight is just the fifth time ever that two Arsenal players have scored in the same match for England (Saka and Eze), and first since November 2021 against San Marino (Saka and Smith Rowe). Gunners.
November 13, 2025 at 9:41 PM
5 - Tonight is just the fifth time ever that two Arsenal players have scored in the same match for England (Saka and Eze), and first since November 2021 against San Marino (Saka and Smith Rowe). Gunners.
226 - In his 226th senior international appearance for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has been red carded for the very first time. Mist.
November 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
226 - In his 226th senior international appearance for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo has been red carded for the very first time. Mist.
2019 - Jérémy Doku today is the first player to score, win 10+ duels (11), complete 7+ dribbles (7), create 3+ chances (3) and have 3+ shots on target (3) in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard for Chelsea v West Ham in April 2019. Outstanding.
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
2019 - Jérémy Doku today is the first player to score, win 10+ duels (11), complete 7+ dribbles (7), create 3+ chances (3) and have 3+ shots on target (3) in a single Premier League game since Eden Hazard for Chelsea v West Ham in April 2019. Outstanding.